The Oakland Athletics placed right-handed pitcher Luis Severino on the 15-day injured list due to a left oblique strain, retroactive to August 6. To fill his roster spot, the team recalled left-hander Hogan Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas, creating some uncertainty about the club’s pitching rotation moving forward. Severino’s next scheduled start would have been Sunday in Baltimore, but the injury now leaves the Athletics evaluating their options.
Rotation and Bullpen Adjustments Following Severino’s Injury
While Hogan Harris has joined the Athletics, it remains unclear whether he will immediately replace Severino in the starting rotation. The Athletics could opt to insert Harris directly into the rotation or shift him into Osvaldo Bido‘s bullpen role, allowing Bido another chance to start games. Bido began the season as a starter, making nine starts with a 5.82 ERA before moving to the bullpen, where he has shown improved performance on limited innings.
Despite Bido’s better form out of the bullpen, including returns of more reliable pitching, a challenge remains as he has not pitched more than 49 pitches in an outing for nearly a month. However, the Athletics believe Bido could manage to throw 65 or more pitches if called upon to start again, providing flexibility in managing the pitching staff.
Hogan Harris’s Role and Performance This Season
Harris, 28, began the year in the Athletics’ bullpen and has compiled a 4.35 ERA in 41 1/3 innings across 30 appearances. In the minors, he has continued working in relief, posting a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings, which suggests that the Athletics may favor him returning to a bullpen role rather than immediately slotting him into the starting rotation. Moving Harris into the starting rotation would also create an unusual situation of having three consecutive left-handed starters—Harris, Jeffrey Springs, and Jacob Lopez—which is not common though not unprecedented.
Severino’s Performance and Recovery Outlook
Luis Severino was the Athletics’ Opening Day starter and has recorded a 6-11 record with a 4.82 ERA over 24 starts this season. He has struck out 103 batters and walked 44 across 136 1/3 innings. His performance has improved notably in recent outings; after a difficult start to the season with a 2-10 record and a 5.30 ERA through the first 19 starts, Severino has gone 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA during his last five starts.
Since the All-Star break, Severino has been especially effective, posting a 4-0 record and a 3.13 ERA, aided by an increased reliance on his fastball. However, no timetable has been provided for his return, and oblique injuries are known for requiring careful management to avoid setbacks during recovery.
Implications for the Athletics Moving Forward
The absence of Severino, the ace of the Athletics’ pitching staff, will present a challenge as the team aims to collect wins in the second half of the season and build momentum toward 2026. Yet, his injury also opens the door for other pitchers to compete for rotation spots next season, giving the team an opportunity to evaluate potential candidates under game conditions. How the club manages this transition in the coming weeks will be crucial as they seek stability within their pitching staff while dealing with uncertainty around Severino’s health.